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exposure of free-living jaguars to toxoplasma gondii, neospora caninum and sarcocystis neurona in the brazilian pantanal.toxoplasma gondii, neospora caninum and sarcocystis neurona are related apicomplexan parasites that cause reproductive and neurological disorders in a wide range of domestic and wild animals. in the present study, the immunofluorescence antibody test (ifat) was used to investigate the presence of antibodies against t. gondii, n. caninum and s. neurona in the sera of 11 free-living jaguars (panthera onca) in two protected areas in the pantanal region of mato grosso state, brazil. ten jaguars (90. ...201725517539
frequency of antibodies against sarcocystis neurona and neospora caninum in domestic cats in the state of bahia, brazil.sarcocystis neurona is the major agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. it infects several mammalian species in the americas, where the definitive hosts, marsupials of the genus didelphis (d. virginiana and d. albiventris) are found. domestic cats are one of the confirmed intermediate hosts of the parasite; however, antibodies against s. neurona had never before been demonstrated in brazilian cats. the aim of this study was to determine whether cats in bahia, brazil, are exposed to the par ...201725517534
therapeutics for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis is an infectious disease of the central nervous system caused by sarcocystis neurona or neospora hughesi. affected horses routinely present with progressive and asymmetrical neurologic deficits. the diagnosis relies on the presence of neurologic signs, ruling out other neurologic disorders, and the detection of intrathecally derived antibodies to either s neurona and/or n hughesi. recommended treatment is use of an fda-approved anticoccidial drug formulation. m ...201728161037
equine protozoal myeloencephalitis: an updated consensus statement with a focus on parasite biology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) remains an important neurologic disease of horses. there are no pathognomonic clinical signs for the disease. affected horses can have focal or multifocal central nervous system (cns) disease. epm can be difficult to diagnose antemortem. it is caused by either of 2 parasites, sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi, with much less known about n. hughesi. although risk factors such as transport stress and breed and age correlations have been identified, b ...201726857902
sarcocystis neurona manipulation using culture-derived merozoites for bradyzoite and sporocyst production.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) remains a significant central nervous system disease of horses in the american continents. sarcocystis neurona is considered the primary causative agent and its intermediate life stages are carried by a wide host-range including raccoons (procyon lotor) in north america. s. neurona sarcocysts mature in raccoon skeletal muscle and can produce central nervous system disease in raccoons, mirroring the clinical presentation in horses. the study aimed to devel ...201728372843
genome-wide identification and evolutionary analysis of sarcocystis neurona protein kinases.the apicomplexan parasite sarcocystis neurona causes equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm), a degenerative neurological disease of horses. due to its host range expansion, s. neurona is an emerging threat that requires close monitoring. in apicomplexans, protein kinases (pks) have been implicated in a myriad of critical functions, such as host cell invasion, cell cycle progression and host immune response evasion. here, we used various bioinformatics methods to define the kinome of s. neurona ...201728335576
a serosurvey of selected cystogenic coccidia in spanish equids: first detection of anti-besnoitia spp. specific antibodies in europe.equine besnoitiosis, caused by besnoitia bennetti, and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm), caused by sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi are relevant equine diseases in the americas that have been scarcely studied in europe. thus, a serosurvey of these cystogenic coccidia was carried out in southern spain. a cross-sectional study was performed and serum samples from horses (n = 553), donkeys (n = 85) and mules (n = 83) were included. an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elis ...201728490374
sarcocystis neurona and neospora caninum in brazilian opossums (didelphis spp.): molecular investigation and in vitro isolation of sarcocystis spp.sarcocystis neurona and neospora spp. are protozoan parasites that induce neurological diseases in horses and other animal species. opossums (didelphis albiventris and didelphis virginiana) are definitive hosts of s. neurona, which is the major cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). neospora caninum causes abortion in cattle and infects a wide range of animal species, while n. hughesi is known to induce neurologic disease in equids. the aims of this study were to investigate s. neuro ...201728807293
seroepidemiology of sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi infections in domestic donkeys (equus asinus) in durango, mexico.there is currently no information regarding sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi infections in donkeys in mexico. here, we determined the presence of antibodies against s. neurona and n. hughesi in donkeys in the northern mexican state of durango. serum samples of 239 domestic donkeys (equus asinus) were assayed for s. neurona and n. hughesi antibodies using home-made enzyme-linked immunoassays; six (2.5%) of the 239 donkeys tested seropositive for s. neurona. the seroprevalence of s. neuron ...201728730993
toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence and association with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis: a case-control study of californian horses.while toxoplasmosis is not commonly considered a clinical disease of equines, previous seroprevalence studies have reported differing background rates of toxoplasma gondii infection in horses globally. the objective of this study was to evaluate possible associations between t. gondii seroprevalence and clinical signs of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) in horses. using a case-control study design, 720 californian horses with neurologic signs compatible with epm were compared to healthy, ...201728697873
seroprevalences of anti-sarcocystis neurona and anti-neospora hughesi antibodies among healthy equids in the united states.objective to describe the general seroprevalence of anti-sarcocystis neurona and anti-neospora hughesi antibodies among healthy equids by use of indirect fluorescent antibody tests and determine potential risk factors for seropositivity. design cross-sectional study. sample whole blood samples collected from 5,250 equids (1 sample/animal) across 18 states in the united states during october 2013. procedures information regarding potential risk factors (geographic region, breed, primary use, sex, ...201728509641
accurate antemortem diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) based on detecting intrathecal antibodies against sarcocystis neurona using the snsag2 and snsag4/3 elisas.recent work demonstrated the value of antigen-specific antibody indices (ai and c-value) to detect intrathecal antibody production against sarcocystis neurona for antemortem diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm).201624033423
sarcocystis caninum and sarcocystis svanai n. spp. (apicomplexa: sarcocystidae) associated with severe myositis and hepatitis in the domestic dog (canis familiaris).there are several reports of sarcocystis sarcocysts in muscles of dogs, but these species have not been named. additionally, there are two reports of sarcocystis neurona in dogs. here, we propose two new names, sarcocystis caninum, and sarcocystis svanai for sarcocysts associated with clinical muscular sarcocystosis in four domestic dogs (canis familiaris), one each from montana and colorado in the usa, and two from british columbia, canada. only the sarcocyst stage was identified. most of the s ...201625256157
diversity of sarcocystis spp shed by opossums in brazil inferred with phylogenetic analysis of dna coding its1, cytochrome b, and surface antigens.although few species of sarcocystis are known to use marsupials of the genus didelphis as definitive host, an extensive diversity of alleles of surface antigen genes (sag2, sag3, and sag4) has been described in samples of didelphid opossums in brazil. in this work, we studied 25 samples of sarcocystis derived from gastrointestinal tract of opossums of the genus didelphis by accessing the variability of sag2, sag3, sag4, gene encoding cytochrome b (cytb) and first internal transcribed spacer (its ...201626905780
first report of cerebellar abiotrophy in an arabian foal from argentina.evidence of cerebellar abiotrophy (ca) was found in a six-month-old arabian filly with signs of incoordination, head tremor, wobbling, loss of balance and falling over, consistent with a cerebellar lesion. normal hematology profile blood test and cerebrospinal fluid analysis excluded infectious encephalitis, and serological testing for sarcocystis neurona was negative. the filly was euthanized. postmortem x-ray radiography of the cervical cephalic region identified not abnormalities, discounting ...201628116251
selective inhibition of sarcocystis neurona calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis therapy.sarcocystis neurona is the most frequent cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, a debilitating neurological disease of horses that can be difficult to treat. we identified sncdpk1, the s. neurona homologue of calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (cdpk1), a validated drug target in toxoplasma gondii. sncdpk1 shares the glycine "gatekeeper" residue of the well-characterized t. gondii enzyme, which allows the latter to be targeted by bumped kinase inhibitors. this study presents detailed molecu ...201627729271
seroepidemiology of sarcocystis neurona, toxoplasma gondii and neospora spp. among horses in the south of the state of minas gerais, brazil.the present study used the indirect fluorescent antibody test (ifat) to determine the seroprevalence of sarcocystis neurona, toxoplasma gondii and neospora spp., and evaluated the variables associated with these infections among 506 apparently healthy horses, reared in the south of the state of minas gerais, brazil. this study was conducted between april 2012 and october 2013. among the horses, the true prevalence of s. neurona was 26% (95% ci: 22.0-30.4%), t. gondii 19.9% (95% ci: 15.5-24.8%) a ...201627334814
seroepidemiology of sarcocystis neurona, toxoplasma gondii and neospora spp. among horses in the south of the state of minas gerais, brazil.the present study used the indirect fluorescent antibody test (ifat) to determine the seroprevalence of sarcocystis neurona, toxoplasma gondii and neospora spp., and evaluated the variables associated with these infections among 506 apparently healthy horses, reared in the south of the state of minas gerais, brazil. this study was conducted between april 2012 and october 2013. among the horses, the true prevalence of s. neurona was 26% (95% ci: 22.0-30.4%), t. gondii 19.9% (95% ci: 15.5-24.8%) a ...201627276662
detection and characterization of diverse coccidian protozoa shed by california sea lions.tissue-cyst forming coccidia in the family sarcocystidae are etiologic agents of protozoal encephalitis in marine mammals including the federally listed southern sea otter (enhydra lutris). california sea lions (zalophus californianus), whose coastal habitat overlaps with sea otters, are definitive hosts for coccidian protozoa provisionally named coccidia a, b and c. while coccidia a and b have unknown clinical effects on aquatic wildlife hosts, coccidia c is associated with severe protozoal dis ...201627141438
california mussels (mytilus californianus) as sentinels for marine contamination with sarcocystis neurona.sarcocystis neurona is a terrestrial parasite that can cause fatal encephalitis in the endangered southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis). to date, neither risk factors associated with marine contamination nor the route of s. neurona infection to marine mammals has been described. this study evaluated coastal s. neurona contamination using california mussels (mytilus californianus) as sentinels for pathogen pollution. a field investigation was designed to test the hypotheses that (1) mussels ...201627003262
chagas disease in a texan horse with neurologic deficits.a 10-year-old quarter horse gelding presented to the texas a&m university veterinary teaching hospital with a six month-history of ataxia and lameness in the hind limbs. the horse was treated presumptively for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) based on clinical signs but was ultimately euthanized after its condition worsened. gross lesions were limited to a small area of reddening in the gray matter of the thoracic spinal cord. histologically, trypanosome amastigotes morphologically simil ...201626801589
dual congenital transmission of toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona in a late-term aborted pup from a chronically infected southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis).toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona are protozoan parasites with terrestrial definitive hosts, and both pathogens can cause fatal disease in a wide range of marine animals. close monitoring of threatened southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) in california allowed for the diagnosis of dual transplacental transmission of t. gondii and s. neurona in a wild female otter that was chronically infected with both parasites. congenital infection resulted in late-term abortion due to dissemina ...201626494610
indirect fluorescent antibody test and surface antigen elisas for antemortem diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.recent research suggests that serum : csf titer ratios could provide the most accurate antemortem diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) caused by sarcocystis neurona.201623517480
prevalence of antibodies against neospora spp. and sarcocystis neurona in donkeys from northeastern brazil.sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi are coccidian protozoa that can cause neurological illness in horses in america. in this study we report seroprevalence of neospora spp. ands. neurona in sera of 333 donkeys from the northeastern region of brazil. antibodies to neospora spp. were detected in 2% (7 donkeys) of 333 sera tested by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (ifat) with a cut-off dilution of 1:40. antibodies to s. neurona were found in 3% (10 donkeys) of the samples tested by ifat ...201626982557
pathology, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastructural findings associated with neurological sarcocystosis in cattle.paraffin-embedded blocks of brain of a nine months old bull calf that died of neurological signs in 1982 in germany were restudied. numerous schizonts and merozoites were found associated with extensive but focal necrosis and severe meningoencephalitis. developing stages of schizonts as well as free merozoites were identified. the schizonts were primarily in perivascular areas. ultrastructurally, schizonts were seen both in capillaries and in extravascular space. merozoites were often concentrat ...201627198793
molecular phylogeny of toxoplasmatinae: comparison between inferences based on mitochondrial and apicoplast genetic sequences.phylogenies within toxoplasmatinae have been widely investigated with different molecular markers. here, we studied molecular phylogenies of the toxoplasmatinae subfamily based on apicoplast and mitochondrial genes. partial sequences of apicoplast genes coding for caseinolytic protease (clpc) and beta subunit of rna polymerase (rpob), and mitochondrial gene coding for cytochrome b (cytb) were analyzed. laboratory-adapted strains of the closely related parasites sarcocystis falcatula and sarcocys ...201627007245
regulation of dna replication proteins in parasitic protozoans: possible role of cdk-like kinases.regulatory roles of cdks in fundamental processes including cell cycle progression and transcription are well conserved in metazoans. this family of proteins has undergone significant evolutionary divergence and specialization. several cdk-like kinases have been identified and characterized in parasitic protozoans. however, clear functional role and physiological relevance of these proteins in protozoans still remain elusive. in continuation with the recent finding that cdk-like protein pfpk5 re ...201626780367
infectious disease and toxicological monitoring of stranded pacific harbor seals (phoca vitulina richardsi) in cook inlet as surrogates for monitoring endangered belugas (delphinapterus leucas).pacific harbor seals ( phoca vitulina richardsi) and belugas ( delphinapterus leucas ) eat many of the same prey species, occupy the same geographic area, and demonstrate site fidelity in cook inlet, alaska. although most direct research involving the critically endangered belugas is currently prohibited, studying harbor seals may provide important information about this beluga population. in recent years, harbor seal populations in alaska have declined for unknown reasons. as part of its strand ...201627691941
survey for infectious disease in the south american fur seal (arctocephalus australis) population at punta san juan, peru.the peruvian population of the south american fur seal ( arctocephalus australis ) is a distinct evolutionarily significant unit that is endangered. one of the largest rookeries for this species in peru is located within the punta san juan marine protected area (15°22's, 75°12'w). to better understand the current health status of this population, exposure to 10 pinniped pathogens was evaluated in adult female fur seals (n=29) via serology and polymerase chain reaction (pcr) techniques in novembe ...201526056875
sarcocystis spp. infection in two red panda cubs (ailurus fulgens).two neonatal male red panda (ailurus fulgens) littermates were submitted for necropsy examination. one animal was found dead with no prior signs of illness; the other had a brief history of laboured breathing. post-mortem examination revealed disseminated protozoal infection. to further characterize the causative agent, transmission electron microscopy (tem), immunohistochemistry (ihc), polymerase chain reaction (pcr) and amplification and nucleic acid sequencing were performed. ihc was negative ...201526054654
management of acute renal failure with delayed hypercalcemia secondary to sarcocystis neurona-induced myositis and rhabdomyolysis in a california sea lion (zalophus californianus).a 3-yr-old captive-born california sea lion (zalophus californianus) developed sarcocystis neurona-induced myositis and rhabdomyolysis that led to acute renal failure. the sea lion was successfully managed with fluid therapy, antiprotozoals, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antiemetics, gastroprotectants, and diuretics, but developed severe delayed hypercalcemia, a syndrome identified in humans after traumatic or exertion-induced rhabdomyolysis. treatment with calcitonin was added to the manage ...201526352981
daily feeding of diclazuril top dress pellets in foals reduces seroconversion to sarcocystis neurona.thirty-three foals from a farm with a high exposure rate to sarcocystis neurona were assigned to either an untreated or a diclazuril-treated group. treated foals received daily 0.5 mg/kg of diclazuril pellets from 1 to 12 months of age. monthly blood was tested for igg against s. neurona using the indirect fluorescent antibody test. following ingestion of colostral antibodies to s. neurona, there was a steady and continuous decline in seroprevalence to s. neurona until foals from both groups rea ...201526346260
detection of sarcocystis spp. infection in bobcats (lynx rufus).the protozoan sarcocystis neurona is an important cause of severe clinical disease of horses (called equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, epm), marine mammals, companion animals, and several species of wildlife animals in the americas. the virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) is its definitive host in the usa and other animals act as intermediate or aberrant hosts. samples of tongue and heart from 35 bobcats hunted for fur and food from mississippi state, usa in february, 2014 were used for th ...201526138150
a novel sarcocystis neurona genotype xiii is associated with severe encephalitis in an unexpectedly broad range of marine mammals from the northeastern pacific ocean.sarcocystis neurona is an important cause of protozoal encephalitis among marine mammals in the northeastern pacific ocean. to characterise the genetic type of s. neurona in this region, samples from 227 stranded marine mammals, most with clinical or pathological evidence of protozoal disease, were tested for the presence of coccidian parasites using a nested pcr assay. the frequency of s. neurona infection was 60% (136/227) among pinnipeds and cetaceans, including seven marine mammal species no ...201525997588
a new trivalent snsag surface antigen chimera for efficient detection of antibodies against sarcocystis neurona and diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisas) based on the snsag surface antigens of sarcocystis neurona provide reliable detection of infection by the parasite. moreover, accurate serodiagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is achieved with the snsag elisas by measuring antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (csf) to reveal active infection in the central nervous system. two independent elisas based on recombinant (r)snsag2 or a chimeric fusion of snsag3 and snsag4 (rsnsag4/3) ...201525943129
sarcocyst development in raccoons (procyon lotor) inoculated with different strains of sarcocystis neurona culture-derived merozoites.sarcocystis neurona is considered the major etiologic agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm), a neurological disease in horses. raccoon ( procyon lotor ) is considered the most important intermediate host in the life cycle of s. neurona in the united states; s. neurona sarcocysts do mature in raccoon muscles, and raccoons also develop clinical signs simulating epm. the focus of this study was to determine if sarcocysts would develop in raccoons experimentally inoculated with different ...201525811893
an update on sarcocystis neurona infections in animals and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm).equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is a serious disease of horses, and its management continues to be a challenge for veterinarians. the protozoan sarcocystis neurona is most commonly associated with epm. s. neurona has emerged as a common cause of mortality in marine mammals, especially sea otters (enhydra lutris). epm-like illness has also been recorded in several other mammals, including domestic dogs and cats. this paper updates s. neurona and epm information from the last 15 years on ...201525737052
systems-based analysis of the sarcocystis neurona genome identifies pathways that contribute to a heteroxenous life cycle.sarcocystis neurona is a member of the coccidia, a clade of single-celled parasites of medical and veterinary importance including eimeria, sarcocystis, neospora, and toxoplasma. unlike eimeria, a single-host enteric pathogen, sarcocystis, neospora, and toxoplasma are two-host parasites that infect and produce infectious tissue cysts in a wide range of intermediate hosts. as a genus, sarcocystis is one of the most successful protozoan parasites; all vertebrates, including birds, reptiles, fish, ...201525670772
pharmacokinetics of a low dose and fda-labeled dose of diclazuril administered orally as a pelleted topdressing in adult horses.the purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of the fda-approved labeled dose of diclazuril and compare it to a low dose in plasma and csf in adult horses. during each research period, six healthy adult horses received 0.5 mg/kg of 1.56% diclazuril pellets (protazil(tm) , merck animal health) compared to the approved labeled dose of 1 mg/kg orally once in two separate phases. a dose of 0.5 mg/kg was calculated to each horse's weight. blood was then collected immediately before ...201525329774
molecular characterization and development of sarcocystis speeri sarcocysts in gamma interferon gene knockout mice.the north american opossum (didelphis virginiana) is the definitive host for at least three named species of sarcocystis: sarcocystis falcatula, sarcocystis neurona and sarcocystis speeri. the south american opossums (didelphis albiventris, didelphis marsupialis and didelphis aurita) are definitive hosts for s. falcatula and s. lindsayi. the sporocysts of these sarcocystis species are similar morphologically. they are also not easily distinguished genetically because of the difficulties of dna e ...201526303093
acute onset of encephalomyelitis with atypical lesions associated with dual infection of sarcocystis neurona and toxoplasma gondii in a dog.a two-year-old male, neutered, basset hound-beagle mix with progressive neurological impairment was examined postmortem. grossly, the dog had multiple raised masses on the spinal cord between nerve roots. microscopically, the dog had protozoal myeloencephalitis. toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona were detected in the cns by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction (pcr). sarcocysts in formalin-fixed muscle were negative for sarcocystis by pcr. banked serum was negative for t. go ...201425260332
molecular characterisation of sarcocystis rileyi from a common eider (somateria mollissima) in norway.the breast and leg muscles of a common eider (somateria mollissima; anatidae: anseriformes) from northern norway contained numerous grossly visible cigar-shaped sarcocysts measuring about 5 × 1 mm. light microscopic examination of isolated sarcocysts revealed that they were encapsulated by a thin fibrous layer, underneath which there was a thin and fairly smooth cyst wall with no visible protrusions. the cystozoites were straight, spindle-shaped and about 13 μm long. genomic dna was extracted fr ...201425082019
purine salvage in the apicomplexan sarcocystis neurona, and generation of hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase-deficient clones for positive-negative selection of transgenic parasites.sarcocystis neurona is an apicomplexan parasite that causes severe neurological disease in horses and marine mammals. the apicomplexa are all obligate intracellular parasites that lack purine biosynthesis pathways and rely on the host cell for their purine requirements. hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hxgprt) and adenosine kinase (ak) are key enzymes that function in two complementary purine salvage pathways in apicomplexans. bioinformatic searches of the s. neurona geno ...201424923662
sarcocystis neurona schizonts-associated encephalitis, chorioretinitis, and myositis in a two-month-old dog simulating toxoplasmosis, and presence of mature sarcocysts in muscles.sarcocystis neurona is an unusual species of the genus sarcocystis. opossums (didelphis virginianus, d. albiventris) are the definitive hosts and several other species, including dogs, cats, marine mammals, and horses are intermediate or aberrant hosts. sarcocysts are not known to form in aberrant hosts. sarcocystis neurona causes fatal disease in horses (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, epm). there are numerous reports of fatal epm-like infections in other species, usually with central nervo ...201424680604
effects of experimental sarcocystis neurona-induced infection on immunity in an equine model.sarcocystis neurona is the most common cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm), affecting 0.5-1% horses in the united states during their lifetimes. the objective of this study was to evaluate the equine immune responses in an experimentally induced sarcocystis neurona infection model. neurologic parameters were recorded prior to and throughout the 70-day study by blinded investigators. recombinant snsag1 elisa for serum and csf were used to confirm and track disease progression. all e ...201426464923
serological status of mares in parturition and the levels of antibodies (igg) against protozoan family sarcocystidae from their pre colostral foals.protozoa from the family sarcocystidae are agents of reproductive and neurological disorders in horses. the transmission of these protozoa may occur via horizontal or vertical means, and the frequency and potential of the later is not fully elucidated in horses. thus, the aim of study was to correlation levels of antibodies in mares with pre colostral foals seropositive and assess the level and distribution of antibodies against neospora spp., sarcocystis neurona and toxoplasma gondii, in mares ...201424183649
equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) can be caused by either of 2 related protozoan parasites, sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi, although s. neurona is the most frequent etiologic pathogen. horses are commonly infected, but clinical disease occurs infrequently; the factors influencing disease occurrence are not well understood. risk factors for the development of epm include the presence of opossums and prior stressful health-related events. attempts to reproduce epm experimentally h ...201425441115
serological investigation of transplacental infection with neospora hughesi and sarcocystis neurona in broodmares.the aim of the present study was to investigate the likelihood of transplacental transmission of neospora hughesi and sarcocystis neurona in foals, born from seropositive mares. three broodmares with persistent n. hughesi infection gave birth to eight healthy foals over a period of 7 years. these foals were seropositive to n. hughesi prior to colostrum ingestion, with titers ranging between 640 and 20,480, measured by indirect fluorescence antibody test (ifat). of 174 foals born at another farm ...201425438732
comparison of prevalence factors in horses with and without seropositivity to neospora hughesi and/or sarcocystis neurona.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis is a commonly diagnosed neurological disease of horses in north america and is caused by infection with sarcocystis neurona or neospora hughesi. the aim of this study was to compare prevalence factors among horses seropositive or seronegative to n. hughesi and/or s. neurona. a total of 3123 submissions were included in the study, with horses originating from 49 states. thirty-eight animals from 21 states tested seropositive for n. hughesi only, 840 horses from ...201424703324
surveillance for zoonotic and selected pathogens in harbor seals phoca vitulina from central california.the infection status of harbor seals phoca vitulina in central california, usa, was evaluated through broad surveillance for pathogens in stranded and wild-caught animals from 2001 to 2008, with most samples collected in 2007 and 2008. stranded animals from mendocino county to san luis obispo county were sampled at a rehabilitation facility: the marine mammal center (tmmc, n = 175); wild-caught animals were sampled at 2 locations: san francisco bay (sf, n = 78) and tomales bay (tb, n = 97), that ...201425266897
pathogen exposure and blood chemistry in the washington, usa population of northern sea otters (enhydra lutris kenyoni).northern sea otters (enhydra lutris kenyoni) from washington state, united states were evaluated in 2011 to determine health status and pathogen exposure. antibodies to brucella spp. (10%) and influenza a virus (23%) were detected for the first time in this population in 2011. changes in clinical pathology values (serum chemistries), exposure to pathogens, and overall health of the population over the last decade were assessed by comparing 2011 data to the data collected on this population in 20 ...201324502716
prevalence of antibodies to sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi in horses from mexico.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is a debilitating disease of horses caused by sarcocystis neurona and neospora hughesi. sera from 495 horses in durango state, mexico were tested for anti-protozoal antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisas) based on major surface antigens of these two parasites. antibodies to s. neurona were detected in 240 (48.5%) of the 495 horse sera tested with the rsnsag2/4/3 trivalent elisa. multivariate analysis showed that exposure to s. neurona ...201324016396
structural and evolutionary adaptation of rhoptry kinases and pseudokinases, a family of coccidian virulence factors.the widespread protozoan parasite toxoplasma gondii interferes with host cell functions by exporting the contents of a unique apical organelle, the rhoptry. among the mix of secreted proteins are an expanded, lineage-specific family of protein kinases termed rhoptry kinases (ropks), several of which have been shown to be key virulence factors, including the pseudokinase rop5. the extent and details of the diversification of this protein family are poorly understood.201323742205
an outbreak of sarcocystis calchasi encephalitis in multiple psittacine species within an enclosed zoological aviary.a total of 5 psittacine birds in an enclosed zoological exhibit, including 2 princess parrots and 3 cockatoos of 2 different species, developed severe central nervous system clinical signs over a 2-3-month period and died or were euthanized. histologically, all birds had a lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic encephalitis with intralesional protozoa consistent with a sarcocystis species in addition to intramuscular tissue sarcocysts. by immunohistochemical staining, merozoites in brain and tissue c ...201324081928
diagnosis and isolation of toxoplasma gondii in horses from brazilian slaughterhouses.this study aimed to investigate anti-toxoplasma gondii antibodies and to isolate the parasite from the brains of horses processed at slaughterhouses in brazil. we collected brain and blood samples from 398 horses of various ages, from six brazilian states. serum samples were evaluated by indirect fluorescent antibody test (ifat cut-off titre ≥ 1:64), and brains were submitted to mouse bioassay. among the 398 horses, positivity for t. gondii was identified in 46 (11.6%) by ifat and in 14 (3.5%) b ...201323538498
efficacy of decoquinate against sarcocystis neurona in cell cultures.decoquinate is a quinolone anticoccidial approved for use in the prevention of intestinal coccidiosis in farm animals. this compound has good activity against toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum in cell cultures. the drug acts on the parasites' mitochondria. the activity of decoquinate against developing merozoites of 2 isolates of sarcocystis neurona was examined in cell culture. merozoite production at 10 days was completely inhibited when decoquinate was used at 20 or 240 nm. the ic50 of d ...201323523012
sarcocystis neurona infection in gamma interferon gene knockout (ko) mice: comparative infectivity of sporocysts in two strains of ko mice, effect of trypsin digestion on merozoite viability, and infectivity of bradyzoites to ko mice and cell culture.the protozoan sarcocystis neurona is the primary cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). epm or epm-like illness has been reported in horses, sea otters, and several other mammals. the gamma interferon gene knockout (ko) mouse is often used as a model to study biology and discovery of new therapies against s. neurona because it is difficult to induce clinical epm in other hosts, including horses. in the present study, infectivity of three life cycle stages (merozoites, bradyzoites, sp ...201323375195
extensively variable surface antigens of sarcocystis spp. infecting brazilian marsupials in the genus didelphis occur in myriad allelic combinations, suggesting sexual recombination has aided their diversification.sarcocystis neurona and sarcocystis falcatula are very similar species of apicomplexan protozoa that use marsupials of the genus didelphis as definitive hosts. these mammals can serve as definitive hosts not only for these two parasites, but for other sarcocystis such as sarcocystis speeri and sarcocystis lindsayi. sarcocystis shed by opossums (with the exception of s. neurona) can cause disease in a great variety of birds, being commonly associated with acute pulmonary sarcocystosis in zoos. s. ...201323433642
short communication: evaluation of the kinetics of antibodies against sarcocystis neurona in serum from seropositive healthy horses without neurological deficits treated with ponazuril paste. 201323893215
temporal association between land-based runoff events and california sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) protozoal mortalities.toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona have caused significant morbidity and mortality in threatened southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) along the central california coast. because only terrestrial animals are known to serve as definitive hosts for t. gondii and s. neurona, infections in otters suggest a land to sea flow of these protozoan pathogens. to better characterize the role of overland runoff in delivery of terrestrially derived fecal pathogens to the near shore, we assessed t ...201222493114
the importance of vertical transmission of neospora sp. in naturally infected horses.neospora spp. is a intracellular protozoan phylogenetically closely related to toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona, and it can infect horses leading to the development of reproductive or neurological diseases. we determined the presence of antibodies to neospora sp. in mares at their parturition time and determine the frequency of vertical transmission in healthy foals to verify the importance of transplacental transmission. the samples were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence antibody ...201222436425
diagnosis and treatment of sarcocystis neurona-induced myositis in a free-ranging california sea lion.an underweight, lethargic adult female california sea lion (zalophus californianus) became stranded along the california shore and was captured and transported to a rehabilitation hospital for assessment and care.201222256850
exposure to sarcocystis spp. in horses from spain determined by western blot analysis using sarcocystis neurona merozoites as heterologous antigen.horses serve as an intermediate host for several species of sarcocystis, all of which utilize canids as the definitive host. sarcocystis spp. infection and formation of latent sarcocysts in horses often appears to be subclinical, but morbidity can occur, especially when the parasite burden is large. a serological survey was conducted to determine the presence of antibodies against sarcocystis spp. in seemingly healthy horses from the galicia region of spain. western blot analyses using sarcocyst ...201222019182
vascular mineralization in the brain of horses.vascular mineralization (siderocalcinosis) in the brain of horses has been usually assumed to be an incidental age-related finding with no clinic significance. in the present study, eight 15-32-year-old horses of different breeds with cerebral siderocalcinosis were studied. four of these horses had acute and severe central nervous system clinical signs of unknown etiology, 2 horses had neurological signs of known cause, and 2 horses did not have neurological signs. gross examination of the brain ...201222529137
canine distemper in an isolated population of fishers (martes pennanti) from california.four fishers (martes pennanti) from an insular population in the southern sierra nevada mountains, california, usa died as a consequence of an infection with canine distemper virus (cdv) in 2009. three fishers were found in close temporal and spatial relationship; the fourth fisher died 4 mo later at a 70 km distance from the initial group. gross lesions were restricted to hyperkeratosis of periocular skin and ulceration of footpads. all animals had necrotizing bronchitis and bronchiolitis with ...201223060505
discovery of three novel coccidian parasites infecting california sea lions (zalophus californianus) with evidence of sexual replication and interspecies pathogenicity.abstract enteric protozoal infection was identified in 5 stranded california sea lions (zalophus californianus). microscopically, the apical cytoplasm of distal jejunal enterocytes contained multiple stages of coccidian parasites, including schizonts with merozoites and spherical gametocytes, morphologically similar to coccidian parasites. by histopathology, organisms appeared to be confined to the intestine and accompanied by only mild enteritis. using electron microscopy, both sexual (microgam ...201121495828
serological response of cats to experimental besnoitia darlingi and besnoitia neotomofelis infections and prevalence of antibodies to these parasites in cats from virginia and pennsylvania.abstract besnoitia darlingi and besnoitia neotomofelis are cyst-forming tissue apicomplexan parasites that use domestic cats ( felis domesticus ) as definitive hosts and opossums ( didelphis virginiana ) and southern plains woodrats ( neotoma micropus ) as intermediate hosts, respectively. nothing is known about the prevalence of b. darlingi or b. neotomofelis in cats from the united states. besnoitia darlingi infections have been reported in naturally infected opossums from many states in the u ...201121506782
detection of antibodies against sarcocystis neurona , neospora spp., and toxoplasma gondii in horses from costa rica.abstract serum samples from 315 horses from costa rica, central america, were examined for the presence of antibodies against sarcocystis neurona , neospora spp., and toxoplasma gondii by using the surface antigen (sag) snsag2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa), the nhsag1 elisa, and the modified agglutination test, respectively. anti- s. neurona antibodies were found in 42.2% of the horses by using the snsag2 elisa. anti- neospora spp. antibodies were found in only 3.5% of the horses by ...201121506839
polyparasitism is associated with increased disease severity in toxoplasma gondii-infected marine sentinel species.in 1995, one of the largest outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis occurred in the pacific northwest region of north america. genetic typing identified a novel toxoplasma gondii strain linked to the outbreak, in which a wide spectrum of human disease was observed. for this globally-distributed, water-borne zoonosis, strain type is one variable influencing disease, but the inability of strain type to consistently explain variations in disease severity suggests that parasite genotype alone does not dete ...201121629726
sarcocystis neurona retinochoroiditis in a sea otter (enhydra lutris kenyoni).sarcocystis neurona is an important cause of fatal disease in sea otters in the usa. encephalitis is the predominant lesion and parasites are confined to the central nervous system and muscles. here we report retinochoroiditis in a sea otter (enhydra lutris kenyoni) found dead on copalis beach, wa, usa. salient lesions were confined to the brain and eye. multifocal nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis was present in the cerebrum and cerebellum associated with s. neurona schizonts. the retina of on ...201121782345
the snsag merozoite surface antigens of sarcocystis neurona are expressed differentially during the bradyzoite and sporozoite life cycle stages.sarcocystis neurona is a two-host coccidian parasite whose complex life cycle progresses through multiple developmental stages differing at morphological and molecular levels. the s. neurona merozoite surface is covered by multiple, related glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked proteins, which are orthologous to the surface antigen (sag)/sag1-related sequence (srs) gene family of toxoplasma gondii. expression of the sag/srs proteins in t. gondii and another related parasite neospora caninum is lif ...201121775062
assessment of clinical pathology and pathogen exposure in sea otters (enhydra lutris) bordering the threatened population in alaska.northern sea otter (enhydra lutris kenyoni) abundance has decreased dramatically over portions of southwest alaska, usa, since the mid-1980s, and this stock is currently listed as threatened under the endangered species act. in contrast, adjacent populations in south central alaska, usa, and russia have been stable to increasing during the same period. sea otters bordering the area classified in the recent decline were live-captured during 2004-2006 at bering island, russia, and the kodiak archi ...201121719822
severe myositis associated with sarcocystis spp. infection in 2 dogs.dogs are definitive hosts for numerous species of the intracellular protozoan parasite sarcocystis. reports of sarcocysts in muscles of dogs most often represent incidental findings.201122092617
a protozoal-associated epizootic impacting marine wildlife: mass-mortality of southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) due to sarcocystis neurona infection.during april 2004, 40 sick and dead southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) were recovered over 18km of coastline near morro bay, california. this event represented the single largest monthly spike in mortality ever recorded during 30 years of southern sea otter stranding data collection. because of the point-source nature of the event and clinical signs consistent with severe, acute neurological disease, exposure to a chemical or marine toxin was initially considered. however, detailed post ...201020615616
sarcocystis sp. encephalomyelitis in a cat.a 5-month-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for spinal pain, ataxia, and anisocoria. neuroanatomic localization indicated diffuse or multifocal central nervous system disease. on cerebrospinal fluid analysis, neutrophilic pleocytosis and intracellular protozoal merozoites were observed. the merozoites were oval, 2-4 microm in width and 4-6 microm in length, and had linear arrays of nuclear material concentrated at one pole. serum was positive for sarcocystis sp. antibodies a ...201019548967
enteric bacterial pathogen detection in southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis) is associated with coastal urbanization and freshwater runoff.although protected for nearly a century, california's sea otters have been slow to recover, in part due to exposure to fecally-associated protozoal pathogens like toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona. however, potential impacts from exposure to fecal bacteria have not been systematically explored. using selective media, we examined feces from live and dead sea otters from california for specific enteric bacterial pathogens (campylobacter, salmonella, clostridium perfringens, c. difficile an ...201019720009
prevalence of antibodies to trypanosoma cruzi, leishmania infantum, encephalitozoon cuniculi, sarcocystis neurona, and neospora caninum in capybara, hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, from são paulo state, brazil.little is known about the importance of capybara, hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, as reservoirs for parasites of zoonotic or veterinary importance. sera from 63 capybaras, from 6 counties in the state of são paulo, brazil, were examined for antibodies to trypanosoma cruzi, leishmania infantum, encephalitozoon cuniculi, sarcocystis neurona, and neospora caninum using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. five (8%) of the 63 capybaras had antibodies to t. cruzi epimastigotes. none of the samples ...201020020808
limited genetic diversity among sarcocystis neurona strains infecting southern sea otters precludes distinction between marine and terrestrial isolates.sarcocystis neurona is an apicomplexan parasite identified as a cause of fatal neurological disease in the threatened southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis). in an effort to characterize virulent s. neurona strains circulating in the marine ecosystem, this study developed a range of markers relevant for molecular genotyping. highly conserved sequences within the 18s ribosomal gene array, the plastid-encoded rna polymerase (rpob) and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene (co1) ...201020071081
rhinitis and disseminated disease in a ferret (mustela putorius furo) naturally infected with sarcocystis neurona.naturally occurring sarcocystis neurona infection in a ferret (mustela putorius furo) with rhinitis and disseminated disease are described for the first time. the ferret exhibited severe rhinitis with intra-lesional s. neurona merozoites and schizonts. diagnosis was confirmed immunohistochemically by staining with s. neurona-specific antibodies, and by phylogenetic analyses of conserved and variable portions of nuclear ribosomal dna. on the basis of intense schizogony in the nasal mucosa, we pro ...201020106599
molecular characterization of sarcocystis neurona strains from opossums (didelphis virginiana) and intermediate hosts from central california.sarcocystis neurona is a significant cause of neurological disease in horses and other animals, including the threatened southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis). opossums (didelphis virginiana), the only known definitive hosts for s. neurona in north america, are an introduced species in california. s. neurona dna isolated from sporocysts and/or infected tissues of 10 opossums, 6 horses, 1 cat, 23 southern sea otters, and 1 harbor porpoise (phocoena phocoena) with natural infections was analy ...201020226596
systemic sarcocystosis in a striped skunk (mephitis mephitis).a striped skunk with neurological signs was euthanized and examined via necropsy. histologically, protozoa were found in multiple tissues. protozoal schizonts measured 15 to 25 mum in diameter and contained 4 to 6 mum crescent-shaped merozoites. protozoa were associated with necrosis and inflammation in the lung, brain, liver, and nasal epithelium. immunohistochemistry labeled protozoa strongly positive for sarcocystis neurona. polymerase chain reaction-amplified products from the protozoan were ...201020375428
prevalence of antibodies to sarcocystis neurona in cats from virginia and pennsylvania.sarcocystis neurona is best known as the causative agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis of horses in the americas. domestic cats ( felis domesticus ) were the first animals described as an intermediate host for s. neurona . however, s. neurona -associated encephalitis has also been reported in naturally infected cats in the united states. thus, cats can be implicated in the life cycle of s. neurona as natural intermediate hosts. the present study examined the seroprevalence of igg antibod ...201020476809
morphologic and molecular characterization of the sarcocysts of sarcocystis rileyi (apicomplexa: sarcocystidae) from the mallard duck ( anas platyrhynchos ).macroscopic sarcocysts are often observed in ducks, but at present their taxonomic status remains uncertain because ducks serve as intermediate hosts for several such parasites in the genus sarcocystis . one such species, sarcocystis rileyi , was long ago established to involve the northern shoveler duck ( anas clypeata ) and the striped skunk ( mephitis mephitis ) as its intermediate and definitive hosts, respectively. here, we employed light microscopy, electron microscopy, and dna sequencing ...201020496959
rng1 is a late marker of the apical polar ring in toxoplasma gondii.the asexually proliferating stages of apicomplexan parasites cause acute symptoms of diseases such as malaria, cryptosporidiosis and toxoplasmosis. these stages are characterized by the presence of two independent microtubule organizing centers (mtocs). centrioles are found at the poles of the intranuclear spindle. the apical polar ring (apr), a mtoc unique to apicomplexans, organizes subpellicular microtubules which impose cell shape and apical polarity on these protozoa. here we describe the c ...201020658557
utility of 2 immunological tests for antemortem diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (sarcocystis neurona infection) in naturally occurring cases.antemortem diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is challenging. limited information is available regarding a commercial test (surface antigen 1 [sag-1] elisa). performance of another commercial test (indirect fluorescent antibody test [ifat]) using samples from an independent group has not been well described.201020707841
improved detection of equine antibodies against sarcocystis neurona using polyvalent elisas based on the parasite snsag surface antigens.equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) is a common neurologic disease of horses that is caused by the apicomplexan pathogen sarcocystis neurona. to help improve serologic diagnosis of s. neurona infection, we have modified existing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisas) based on the immunogenic parasite surface antigens snsag2, snsag3, and snsag4 to make the assays polyvalent, thereby circumventing difficulties associated with parasite antigenic variants and diversity in equine immune res ...201021075532
antibody coefficients for the diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm) remains a challenge for equine practitioners. current utilized methods have inadequate sensitivity and specificity, because of a high number of false positive results. hypothesis/objective: evaluation of antibody indices to sarcocystis neurona should provide high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of epm.201021155894
prevalence of antibodies to trypanosoma cruzi, toxoplasma gondii, encephalitozoon cuniculi, sarcocystis neurona, besnoitia darlingi, and neospora caninum in north american opossums, didelphis virginiana, from southern louisiana.we examined the prevalence of antibodies to zoonotic protozoan parasites ( trypanosoma cruzi, toxoplasma gondii, and encephalitozoon cuniculi) and protozoans of veterinary importance ( neospora caninum, sarcocystis neurona, and besnoitia darlingi) in a population of north american opossums ( didelphis virginiana) from louisiana. samples from 30 opossums were collected as part of a survey for t. cruzi in louisiana. frozen sera from these 30 opossums were examined using an indirect immunofluoresce ...201021158620
self-mating in the definitive host potentiates clonal outbreaks of the apicomplexan parasites sarcocystis neurona and toxoplasma gondii.tissue-encysting coccidia, including toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis neurona, are heterogamous parasites with sexual and asexual life stages in definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. during its sexual life stage, t. gondii reproduces either by genetic out-crossing or via clonal amplification of a single strain through self-mating. out-crossing has been experimentally verified as a potent mechanism capable of producing offspring possessing a range of adaptive and virulence potentials. ...201021203443
prey choice and habitat use drive sea otter pathogen exposure in a resource-limited coastal system.the processes promoting disease in wild animal populations are highly complex, yet identifying these processes is critically important for conservation when disease is limiting a population. by combining field studies with epidemiologic tools, we evaluated the relationship between key factors impeding southern sea otter (enhydra lutris nereis) population growth: disease and resource limitation. this threatened population has struggled to recover despite protection, so we followed radio-tagged se ...200919164513
a novel sarcocystis-associated encephalitis and myositis in racing pigeons.sarcosporidian cysts in the skeletal muscle of domestic pigeons (columba livia f. domestica) have previously been attributed to infection with sarcocystis falcatula, which is shed in the faeces of the opossum (didelphis virginiana). here, we describe fatal spontaneous encephalitis and myositis associated with sarcocystis infections in three flocks of racing pigeons with 47 of 244 animals affected. the clinical course was characterized by depression, mild diarrhoea, torticollis, opisthotonus, par ...200919322710
in vitro efficacy of nitro- and halogeno-thiazolide/thiadiazolide derivatives against sarcocystis neurona.sarcocystis neurona is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). the aim of this work was to document inhibitory activities of nitazoxanide (ntz, [2-acetolyloxy-n-(5-nitro 2-thiazolyl) benzamide]) and new thiazolides/thiadiazolides on s. neurona in vitro development, and investigate their structure-activity relationships. s. neurona was grown in bovine turbinate cell cultures. at concentrations varying from 1.0 to 5.0mg/l, nitazoxanide and 21 of 32 ...200919369006
the heptanucleotide motif gagacgc is a key component of a cis-acting promoter element that is critical for snsag1 expression in sarcocystis neurona.the apicomplexan parasite sarcocystis neurona undergoes a complex process of intracellular development, during which many genes are temporally regulated. the described study was undertaken to begin identifying the basic promoter elements that control gene expression in s. neurona. sequence analysis of the 5'-flanking region of five s. neurona genes revealed a conserved heptanucleotide motif gagacgc that is similar to the wgagacg motif described upstream of multiple genes in toxoplasma gondii. th ...200919428678
evidence that antibodies against recombinant snsag1 of sarcocystis neurona merozoites are involved in infection and immunity in equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.sarcocystis neurona is the principal etiologic agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). an immunodominant protein of s. neurona, snsag-1, is expressed by the majority of s. neurona merozoites isolated from spinal tissues of horses diagnosed with epm and may be a candidate for diagnostic tests and prophylaxis for epm. five horses were vaccinated with adjuvanted recombinant snsag1 (rsnsag1) and 5 control (sham vaccinated) horses were vaccinated with adjuvant only. serum was evaluated pre ...200919794889
prevalence and risk factors associated with sarcocystis neurona infections in opossums (didelphis virginiana) from central california.sarcocystis neurona, a protozoal parasite shed by opossums (didelphis virginiana), has been shown to cause significant morbidity and mortality in horses, sea otters, and other marine mammals. over the course of 3 years (fall 2005-summer 2008), opossums from central california were tested for infection with s. neurona. of 288 opossums sampled, 17 (5.9%) were infected with s. neurona based on the molecular characterization of sporocysts from intestinal scrapings or feces. risk factors evaluated fo ...200919735983
ultrastructural and molecular confirmation of the development of sarcocystis neurona tissue cysts in the central nervous system of southern sea otters (enhydra lutris nereis).in 2004, three wild sea otters were diagnosed with putative sarcocystis neurona-associated meningoencephalitis by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. schizonts, free merozoites and tissue cysts were observed in the brains of all three infected animals. tissue cysts walls from sea otter 1 (so1) stained positively using anti-s. neurona polyclonal antiserum. however, positive staining does not preclude infection by closely related or cross-reactive tissue cyst-forming coccidian parasites. two ...200919527725
has sarcocystis neurona dubey et al., 1991 (sporozoa: apicomplexa: sarcocystidae) cospeciated with its intermediate hosts?the question of how sarcocystis neurona is able to overcome species barrier and adapt to new hosts is central to the understanding of both the evolutionary origin of s. neurona and the prediction of its field host range. therefore, it is worth reviewing current knowledge on s. neurona host specificity. the available host range data for s. neurona are discussed in relation to a subject of evolutionary importance-specialist or generalist and its implications to understand the strategies of host ad ...200919375231
characterization of sarcocystis from four species of hawks from georgia, usa.during 2001 to 2004, 4 species of hawks (buteo and accipiter spp.) from georgia were surveyed for sarcocystis spp. infections by examining intestinal sections. in total, 159 of 238 (66.8%) hawks examined were infected with sarcocystis spp. samples from 10 birds were characterized by sequence analysis of a portion of the 18s rrna gene (783 base pairs). only 3 of the 10 sequences from the hawks were identical; the remainder differed by at least 1 nucleotide. phylogenetic analysis failed to resolve ...200918576854
diagnosis and treatment of sarcocystis neurona in a captive harbor seal (phoca vitulina).a captive harbor seal (phoca vitulina) presented with partial anorexia, ataxia, and head bobbing, which progressed to complete anorexia, lethargy, and persistent whole-body intention tremors within several days. response to treatment with ponazuril, serology, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis supported a diagnosis of sarcocystis neurona. analysis of serum levels for ponazuril indicated that therapeutic levels could be achieved at a dosage of 5 mg/kg p.o. s.i.d., whereas clinical response was impr ...200818634214
strains of sarcocystis neurona exhibit differences in their surface antigens, including the absence of the major surface antigen snsag1.a gene family of surface antigens is expressed by merozoites of sarcocystis neurona, the primary cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (epm). these surface proteins, designated snsags, are immunodominant and therefore excellent candidates for development of epm diagnostics or vaccines. prior work had identified an epm isolate lacking the major surface antigen snsag1, thus suggesting there may be some diversity in the snsags expressed by different s. neurona isolates. therefore, a bioinform ...200817980881
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